Death toll from devastating Nepal floods climbs to 475

The death toll from devastating floods in north-central Nepal this week has risen to 475, police reported Friday, with rescue teams searching downriver for dozens still believed missing.

Triggered by the collapse of a glacier high in the Himalayas, near Nepal’s border with Tibet, on Wednesday, the flood unleashed torrents of water, mud and debris that crashed down mountain slopes into villages and river valleys, destroying homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Police have been pulling bodies from the river across several districts in central Nepal after floodwaters carried victims far from where they originally went missing, reported the Kathmandu Post.

The extent of the devastation has hampered rescue operations, as damaged roads and unstable land make it difficult to reach several remote areas. Initial reports stated that as many as hundreds were missing, with some of the missing including foreign trekkers.

Rescue teams have continued to comb the rivers and precarious terrain for survivors and victims as officials try to monitor other river systems and treacherous areas for danger.